The concept originally surfaced in the 1970s, and the drive towards tighter environmental targets, new regulations and the focus on a more sustainable approach is driving a resurgence in post occupancy evaluation. It is central to improving the performance of low and zero carbon building design, and vital for sustainable construction.

The process of post occupancy evaluation can be visualised as part of the building lifecycle, where information learnt from an operational (and occupied) project can be used to inform decisions at all of the stages in the design and operational life of a building.

When the development is first occupied by the client, it is important to visit the site immediately to identify any issues that need to be addressed quickly. It can be beneficial to establish a help-desk and rapid response team to resolve issues as they arise (See articles on occupation and migration strategy).

Generally, performance in use assessments cannot begin until 6 to 12 months after occupation, as operations may not be properly established and the building will not have operated in all seasons. They may then be part of a continuous process.

An assessment of whether the development is being operated as designed.

Environmental and energy consumption in use. NB Regular evaluation of energy consumption is mandatory for certain types of buildings under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations). See the article on energy certificates for more information.

The assessment should compare findings to the original targets set out in business case (the original targets may need to be updated to reflect; changes to the project brief during the design process, inflation etc). It should also compare findings to other projects and industry standards and compare the outcome of the project with the position had the project not taken place.

A report should be prepared that identifies issues, recommends remedies, and makes suggestions for improvements in performance for future projects.